You probably know the expression: “Go with the flow”. But did you ever wonder what the flow looks like? I mean, it sounds all smooth and silky, but in many cases life doesn’t present itself exactly like that, right? So what is it? And how do we tap in on it? I recently came across this film that made me realize what what “flow” is. It comes in all kinds of forms and forces. And it’s not outside of us, it’s within us. It’s not the circumstance that creates the “flow”, it’s how we deal with that circumstance. When we deal with a force as if it were a “flow”, it will become a flow. No matter how strong it is. This footage clearly shows us that. So remember, instead of saying “go with the flow”, say “be the flow”.
Thanks to a friend of mine, I stumbled upon a guy called Espen Fadnes, a Norwegian bass jumper. He says: “People who’ve seen me about to fly off a cliff say I look perfectly calm. It’s the complete opposite. I’m terrified. I’ve just developed techniques and methods to cope with that fear”. So, what is it like flying down a mountain at 250 km per hour? Espen – who is the world’s fastest flying human being 2010 – teamed up with project managers goovinn to communicate the experience of flying. It worked: this will blow your mind. It did blow my mind, I can tell you that. It’s a breathtaking mini movie (only 05:37!) that hopefully inspires you to face your own fears in one way or another.
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang (in the West often referred to as yin and yang) is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Like night and day, ebb and flow or in the case of this Japanese proverb; vision and action. They need each other, for else they become illusionary forces – either a daydream or a nightmare. Did you notice how in the West ‘yin yang’ is referred to as ‘yin and yang’? Apparently in Asian philosophy there is no need for and in yin (and) yang, meaning: in Asia the yin yang concept is considered as one, while in the West it is perceived as two separate forces, that potentially is one, depending on the presence of the word and.
Like a rocket is not meant to stay on the ground, your dreams are not meant to be ignored. Whatever they are, big or small, something you want in the far away future or next week, going after your dreams ignites your passion for life. It makes you feel inspired and you’ll inspire others. So gear up, gain momentum, start counting down and have lift off. Don’t let the thought of gravity pulling you back again scare you off. Don’t dream about your dreams, go after them.
To achieve a dream, you must invest. The sooner you invest, the more time you have for your dream to turn into a big success. Or like the Chinese proverb: ‘The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now’. If you weren’t already working on a dream, now is always a good moment to start. Make the decision. Take action. Sow the seed. And don’t dig it up a day or two later, for progress takes time. Give it time, and attention. What water is to a tree, is attention to a dream.
Whatever it is you want to do, you can think about that for days, weeks or even years. You can analyze it, make plans for it, come up with al kinds of strategies and theories. But it is until the moment you actually get into action, you’re not getting anywhere. In order to really get ahead, there is one simple thing you have to do. You have to get started.
